to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively: She flatters him by constantly praising his books.
to represent favorably; gratify by falsification: The portrait flatters her.
to show to advantage: a hairstyle that flatters the face.
to play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of; cajole, wheedle, or beguile: They flattered him into contributing heavily to the foundation.
to please or gratify by compliments or attentions: I was flattered by their invitation.
to feel satisfaction with (oneself), especially with reference to an accomplishment, act, or occasion: He flattered himself that the dinner had gone well.
to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
verb (used without object)
to use flattery.
Origin of flatter
1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English flat(t)eren “to float, flutter, fawn upon,” Old English floterian “to float, flutter”; for sense development, cf. flicker1, Old Norse flathra; reinforced by Old French flatter “to flatter,” literally, “to stroke, caress” (probably from unattested Frankish flat- flat1)
Senators flatter themselves by believing their obstruction is all that stands between the country and catastrophe.
The definitive case for ending the filibuster|Ezra Klein|October 1, 2020|Vox
In the last few decades, the received wisdom among global elites has been that technology tends to make the world flatter, smaller, more open, and more equal.
A world divided into “cans” and “cannots”|Katie McLean|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Americans may flatter themselves that they are governed more lightly than other advanced countries.